OHP releases report in I-40 crash

The tow truck driver injured when he and McLoud police officer were working an accident on Interstate 40 has been released from the hospital, while more details about the incident are known from a report released Monday.

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By Kim Morava

The Shawnee News-Star

By Kim Morava

Posted Mar. 5, 2013 at 9:00 AM

By Kim Morava

Posted Mar. 5, 2013 at 9:00 AM

The tow truck driver injured when he and McLoud police officer were working an accident on Interstate 40 has been released from the hospital, while more details about the incident are known from a report released Monday.

It was about 8:11 p.m. Thursday when the accident occurred in the eastbound lanes of I-40 near Arena Road in Pottawatomie County. Emergency crews were working the scene of a previous crash when a second accident occurred, resulting in an arrest on a driving under the influence complaint.

The trooper’s report shows that McLoud Police Officer John Charles Burrows II, 44, of Newalla, was a pedestrian injured at the scene, along with a wrecker driver, Steve Haynes, 53, Shawnee.

Haynes, the wrecker driver who reportedly suffered numerous injuries, was taken to OU Medical Center. A hospital spokesperson said Monday that Haynes had been discharged.

Burrows, who went to St. Anthony Shawnee Hospital for treatment of a leg injury, was released the same night.

According a statement issued by the McLoud Police Department, Burrows is a volunteer reserve officer with the department.

According to the report, Burrows’ patrol car, a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria police unit, was legally parked for traffic control in the inside lane. The OHP reports that the patrol car had its emergency lights activated and was providing traffic control for a wrecker that was recovering a wrecked car from the previous incident.

That’s when a 2007 Chevrolet Sierra, allegedly driven by an intoxicated driver, the OHP report shows, struck the patrol car in the right rear, then continued east before striking a 2000 Lexus from the original accident. The pickup then struck the guardrail.

The patrol noted the guardrail folded up and struck Haynes, causing him serious injuries. The report shows the McLoud police officer jumped over the cable barrier as the crash unfolded to avoid being hit and suffered injuries to his leg.

Two occupants in the Lexus that was undrivable following the first crash were not injured, the OHP said. Both were from Oklahoma City.

The driver of the Chevrolet Sierra was identified on the trooper’s teletype as Steven Eugene Rankin, 26, Shawnee, the report shows. His passenger was Steven Lee Giorvas, 51, Shawnee. Neither of them were injured.

According to jail records, Rankin, who has been released on bond, was booked into the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center on a complaint of DUI and transporting open container. Formal charges have not been filed. Giorvas, who also has since posted bond, was taken to jail on a public drunk complaint, jail records show.